You are viewing this article in the AnnArbor.com archives. For the latest breaking news and updates in Ann Arbor and the surrounding area, see MLive.com/ann-arbor

Posted on Sat, Mar 3, 2012 : 8:52 p.m.

Couple drops banquet hall plans after fierce community opposition

By Cindy Heflin

Community opposition has thwarted a couple’s plans for a banquet hall in Manchester Township, the Manchester Enterprise reported.

The township’s planning commission Thursday approved a conditional use permit on a 4-2 vote for the facility, which Dan and Carol Huntsbarger planned to rent out for events such as weddings, the newspaper reported.

But after more than 60 people turned out to oppose the permit and some vowed to sue the township, the couple said they would not go through with their plans for the facility at 13291 Tracey Road.

Comments

Lake Trout

Mon, Mar 5, 2012 : 4:57 p.m.

I find this kind of rabid group mentality very unfortunate. Here is a family who is trying to do something to maintain a farm/rural setting and be able to not only afford to do so, but to offer it to others to enjoy as well. If anyone needs an example of a very well run, farm/event rental, please go to the web site for Misty Farm on Scio Church Road. Yes, they are pricy, but even though they have fairly large events on a smaller property, I have never seen or heard of any problems generated by this business and as far as I know, are good neighbors and continue to improve their buildings and grounds. I don't believe that the Huntsbargers were planning to hold &quot;shindigs&quot; with loud music, mud bogging and target shooting. Endangering children??? Really? Get a life folks - Manchester isn't that prosperous. Sham on all of you NIMBY's who can't think beyond the end of your noses.

jd019

Tue, Mar 6, 2012 : 12:55 p.m.

Scio Church Rd vs Tracey Rd- They are VERY different. Maybe if the whole thing wasn't done in such a sneaky way people wouldn't be so angry. Call it what it is- a reception hall that can be rented- they had it approved as a country club house. I hope the residents do stick together on this- its called supporting your neighbors and continue to fight this. I don't trust for a second that this project won't continue to be pushed through under the radar. People can go to Misty Farms.

Peter

Mon, Mar 5, 2012 : 5:41 a.m.

Wellers in Saline is a fine place to get married as well.
<a href="http://www.wellersweddings.com/" rel='nofollow'>http://www.wellersweddings.com/</a>

Jake C

Mon, Mar 5, 2012 : 1:58 a.m.

I wasn't at the hearing so I won't claim to know the exact reasons of those who opposed. A quick Google Maps satellite view of the area shows that this looks to be a quiet rural neighborhood on a dirt road.
But to play Devi's Advocate, I can imagine the opposition was that this banquet hall would basically turn their quiet country neighborhood into a giant party location every single weekend.
Imagine if you lived in a boring Ann Arbor subdivision, and your neighbor turned their house into a nightclub. Or maybe they hosted a 150-person party every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday that lasted until midnight or 2 AM.
How would you feel about that? Would you be happy that there is &quot;economic development&quot; happening in your area, while you're unable to sleep? Would you celebrate your neighbor's American Freedom to Do Whatever The Heck They Want while wedding guests parked on your front lawn?
Again, I didn't attend this meeting and I dont know the exact arguments presented, but if anyone can prove me wrong, please do so.

Redleg

Mon, Mar 5, 2012 : 1:07 a.m.

Ha! Another cut and paste article from an even crappier on- line news source than AA.com-- Heritage Newspapers under which umbrella the &quot;Manchester Enterprise&quot; falls..... Such an important hot-button topic, that nobody in Manchester even bothered to comment within the confines of their &quot;local&quot; on- line newspaper......

Jake C

Mon, Mar 5, 2012 : 3:34 a.m.

They actually bothered to comment in person. imagine that!

Jake C

Mon, Mar 5, 2012 : 3:29 a.m.

Maybe they have better things to do than &quot;comment on line&quot;.. what does that say about us?

jd019

Sun, Mar 4, 2012 : 11:26 p.m.

My parents live on this road, a few properties down. The reason they moved to the middle of no where is because they didn't want to live by anything like this- they wanted to live in the country. The road is not even wide enough for two cars to past at the same time in most parts- it is gravel and has a dangerous blind spot intersection near the proposed site. Kids want to ride their bikes and horses on the roads out there- not have to worry about an increase in cars- let's not forget the potential drunks that could be leaving from this party. They want to hear cows and crickets, not music.
It was proposed as a county club house- yet will not have any of the facilities associated with a club house. No pool, no tennis courts, no exercise facility, ect. I am not saying the owners idea is bad-the location is bad.
Plus, since there is no public utilities and they cannot put in a large enough septic field the restroom facilities will be Porta-Pottyies. I don't know what bride will want to hike up her wedding dress to pee a few thousand times in that on her wedding day.

David Read

Sun, Mar 4, 2012 : 8:32 p.m.

For all of you looking for a rural option for your wedding (or any event) check out Misty Farms:
<a href="http://mistyfarmevents.com/" rel='nofollow'>http://mistyfarmevents.com/</a>
located in Scio Township even though the address is Ann Arbor.

Abby Rosenbaum

Sun, Mar 4, 2012 : 5:55 p.m.

what a shame - we could really use a great rustic wedding venue in the area ;-(

Diane

Sun, Mar 4, 2012 : 3:49 p.m.

Build your hall in Saline. We need one.

thecompound

Sun, Mar 4, 2012 : 3:44 p.m.

Isn't this the same Dan Huntsbarger who owns the Moveable Feast catering and previously Daniel's on Liberty? If it is, it really is a shame that this is not going through.

A2CPA

Sun, Mar 4, 2012 : 7:40 p.m.

That's what I thought when I read the link to the article. Perhaps the fine folks of Manchester do not want them down in their neck of the woods?
I don't know why they aren't welcome there; they are top-notch!

pest

Sun, Mar 4, 2012 : 3:25 p.m.

I seriously doubt that 60 people live within 5 miles of there! Tracey Rd is in the boondocks of Manchester on a gravel road!
I personally wouldn't care if there was a banquet hall at that location, and would welcome it!

Jake C

Mon, Mar 5, 2012 : 1:54 a.m.

Of course you wouldn't care if there was a banquet hall in that location, YOU DON'T LIVE THERE.

zanzerbar

Sun, Mar 4, 2012 : 3:15 p.m.

Manchester.....where's that.

Kayleigh

Sun, Mar 4, 2012 : 2:13 p.m.

I agree with wait.think. It seems like only good could come out of this new banquet hall. I searched and searched for a rural wedding venue, since I got married in Saline. Sharon Hollow was too small, The Landing in Tecumseh was too far away, and Weller's was a tad pricey. I have country taste and I wouldv'e loved to bring my party to Manchester! I would LOVE to know the reason this idea was opposed!

treetowncartel

Sun, Mar 4, 2012 : 3:47 p.m.

You missed the Grange Hall in Pittsfield Township. You would have had to do your own catering and clean up, but it is quite affordable.

leezee

Sun, Mar 4, 2012 : 1:55 p.m.

And I thought the folks in Ann Arbor were uptight! By the way, I am from Ann Arbor and post often. I don't understand this prevailing thought that most posters are not from Ann Arbor.

thecompound

Sun, Mar 4, 2012 : 1:42 p.m.

Wow, just read the link to the story, glad I don't live near Mrs. Kravitz, I mean Ms. Adams.

DNB

Sun, Mar 4, 2012 : 8:04 p.m.

Gladys, and her hubs, Abner ----- Thanks for the laugh!

Carole

Sun, Mar 4, 2012 : 1:27 p.m.

It would have been good to know why folks were opposed to the hall. In this day, it seems folks are opposed to anything and everything that might bring in jobs and some fun.

pam

Sun, Mar 4, 2012 : 1:26 p.m.

oops...in my previous comment, the links for michigan friends center and friends lake cooperative were hampered by a misplaced period and parenthesis.
michigan friends center is <a href="http://www.mfcenter.org" rel='nofollow'>www.mfcenter.org</a>
friends lake community is <a href="http://www.friendslake.org" rel='nofollow'>www.friendslake.org</a>

pam

Sun, Mar 4, 2012 : 1:22 p.m.

If someone were to want to find an event venue in a lovely natural environment, they could check out Michigan Friends Center in Chelsea ( <a href="http://www.mfcenter.org)" rel='nofollow'>www.mfcenter.org)</a> which is on the 100 acres of the Friends Lake Cooperative Community (see <a href="http://www.friendslake.org)" rel='nofollow'>www.friendslake.org)</a>.

wait.think

Sun, Mar 4, 2012 : 1:09 p.m.

With three daughters, I have given a lot of thought to wedding reception venues. I would love to have a rural option, rather than a square-box-room at a hotel. Hmmm... a country barn dance reception? A pretty pergola, small and intimate? Beautiful people strolling on green lawns, beautifully landscaped. So much more inviting that a room near the expressway...
Pros of a rural mixed use business on a farm?
1. Road improvements could be required.
2. Job opportunities for local residents.
3. City-dwellers coming to events might fall in love with the area and want to move into some of the homes left vacant when the few large employers pulled out of the area, therefore increasing the general well-being of the community...
4. Taxable value on the land would improve...
Cons
1. Change is bad.
2. Mosquitos.
If I were a neighbor of this farm, I would not object to a banquet facility. I was raised on a cattle/pig farm, and I would much rather have a bit of traffic occasionally than the constant smell of pigs!

Salinemary

Sun, Mar 4, 2012 : 1:03 p.m.

From the Manchester Enterprise article. &quot;More than 60 residents packed the township hall to oppose the conditional use permit, claiming all the traffic and people would destroy the rural township's way of life and pose dangers to children. Many also said the planning commission did not do enough with informing the public on the matter.&quot; I'm not expressing an opinion, just posting to answer the previous comment.

sun runner

Mon, Mar 5, 2012 : 1:45 p.m.

&quot;WON'T SOMEBODY THINK OF THE CHILDREN?!&quot;
The ultimate trump card has been played.

A2anon

Sun, Mar 4, 2012 : 12:50 p.m.

3 comments so far, after 10 hours up. If this had been Ann Arbor, there would be 50 already. Which reinforces my belief that the majority of posters here who seem to hate Ann arbordo not live here.

Brad

Sun, Mar 4, 2012 : 12:57 p.m.

Maybe the majority of posters here in Ann Arbor don't really care much about a banquet hall in Manchester.

Dirtgrain

Sun, Mar 4, 2012 : 11:55 a.m.

What were the reasons for the opposition?

MIKE

Sun, Mar 4, 2012 : 5:50 p.m.

&quot;She said a recent push on agritourism in the area would encourage events such as weddings, and believes it could still happen.&quot;

thinker

Sun, Mar 4, 2012 : 5:20 a.m.

This sounds very similar to the opposition to the Costco at Jackson and Wagner. No matter that future jobs are not realised. Ann Arbor was fortunate at least that Costco found an alternate site, though much farther away. It's very fortunate that Manchester Township has a surfeit of jobs, and did not need to give a new business a chance.

Engineer

Sun, Mar 4, 2012 : 4:19 a.m.

I thought this was the United States of America where freedom lived. Apparently not. If Dan owns the land leave him alone and let him do what he wants. The fact he even needed to apply for a permit is against all this country stands for. Crazy people thinking they can tell someone what to do with their own land. Folks there are plenty of places you can live in the formaer USSR if you want to be oppressed. Let freedom be ours!!!!

Jake C

Mon, Mar 5, 2012 : 3:22 a.m.

@eagleman: having a party at your house is not Federally protected. Race, age, gender,handicaps, etc, are.
Do you understand the difference, or are you just trying to make a silly joke?

eagleman

Sun, Mar 4, 2012 : 7:30 p.m.

So Johnny what if a community wants to ban people of certain type from their community? If we use your logic they ought to have the right.

clownfish

Sun, Mar 4, 2012 : 4:29 p.m.

`Or, we just saw a representational republic in action, citizens showing up to express concerns to elected officials and neighbors. It was not the evil Gubment that stopped the Hall, it sounds like it was the owners themselves recognizing that they were not being good neighbors.

johnnya2

Sun, Mar 4, 2012 : 2:11 p.m.

Yeah, so if my house is in a neighborhood, I can decide to turn it into a bar. If I want, i can let the grass grow to any length I want. I could turn the front yard into a salvage yard. If it is my house I could turn it into a porn studio too. Your comment is not very well thought out or based on reality. You and Ron Paul should go back to your caves.